''You have certainly improved from your first days at the academy.'' Old Blade commented as he sheathed his blade. The building they were inside of suddenly had it's front gates open, it seemed that it was time for the next student to battle the mentor.
Hope thanked Old Blade for his words and headed upstairs, the building they were inside of was inside the spacious academy. The place where the duels were held were at the training grounds, where you would learn how to swing swords, and such trivial matters. Hope could not deny that he was feeling quite sore after the duel, but the soreness had become practically numb as he realized that he had actually managed to pass the final examinations.
Passing the final examinations of an academy would qualify you, to earn a license for your weapon. The Elven Kingdom, also known as The Great Nargothrond, had long maintained strong ties with the other Great Kingdoms, chiefly those of the Humans. Since the days of the First Epoch, the Elves and Humans have forged a deep and enduring alliance, bound by mutual respect, shared history, and common purpose. Hence, why it was quite important to pass the examinations, especially for someone like Hope, who had aspired to become an adventurer and for that, he naturally needed a license for weapons, among others.
Heading upstairs Hope caught sight of the familiar faces of Lith, and just behind him, Tristen. To Hope's surprise, Lith seemed to have been expecting him, even before he had fully ascended the stairs. He approached them. Tristen, as usual, was deep in conversation with Lith, rambling about how he'd been assigned an exam he had no business doing. Hope overheard Tristen complaining that he might have been cursed by the Gods to suffer such misfortune. Hope chuckled quietly, then greeted Lith.
The sudden noise had startled Tristen, ''Don't do that again! You know how long we have been waiting for you?'' Tristen lectured Hope, who just shrugged seemingly unfazed. ''It's not my fault the instructors didn't like me.'' Lith, who had been silently observing the both of them, finally opened his mouth to speak. ''Hope, Tristen got assigned with the Archery examination.'' Hope, upon hearing this burst into laughter, whilst Tristen asked Lith to not remind him of that.
Tristen had never touched a bow, aside from when they were instructed to do so in the first weeks of the Junior Academy. ''How'd it go?'' Hope asked curiously, after all Tristen would have to repeat another year in the academy if he hadn't passed the final examinations. Tristen, paused for a second, ''It, surprisingly... Didn't turn out too bad.''
Hope glanced at Lith, ''And you? Did you luck out and receive something related to sorcery?''
Lith smiled, ''I received Sorcery & Hunting. I was very surprised upon receiving the paper, I wasn't aware of the fact that you could be assigned with two...'' Lith rubbed the back of his head, before asking Hope what he had received. Hope glanced at Tristen, who seemed very mad that he had been put through archery whilst Lith had it easy.
Hope informed them that he had also been in the same situation as Lith, but he received ''Swordsmanship & Sorcery''. Tristen put his hands inside the pocket of his casual trousers before suggesting, ''Let's head out, I don't like the feeling of remaining inside this stupid building anyways.''
As the three of them stepped out of the academy, they were greeted by the soft chirping of birds. The sounds came from rooftops covered in vines and small blooming flowers. A light breeze passed through the trees, carrying the fresh scent of leaves and earth. They walked down a quiet stone path and entered the town of Ithria.
Ithria was where Hope had been born. It was not a large town, but it was peaceful and full of beauty. Trees lined the streets, their branches hanging overhead like a leafy roof. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting soft shadows on the ground. There were quite a few bunch of market vendors stationed at different spots, the three had glossed over the market vendors and continued exploring. The three had been chatting about the memories they had inside the academy. Naturally after the final examinations, you had successfully finished all education required, and you could do anything you'd wish to accomplish, so this could be the last day the three would see each other.
In the center of town, there was a small fountain with crystal clear water bursting from within it. The water trickled from its petals and sparkled in the light. Children laughed nearby, with their parents keeping watch over them. Hope watched the parents play with the kids, he had wondered how his life would've felt like if he had his sister and mother alongside him. He felt a strange sense of sorrow tugging at his heart, but his friends' company was distracting him from these thoughts.
Houses in Ithria were built with smooth stone and had curved wooden doors. There were some which had small gardens out front, filled with herbs, glowing mushrooms, or even mystical bright flowers. Elves walked through the streets, speaking gently to one another or tending to their stalls. ''It's truly beautiful.'' Lith, who was observing Ithria mumbled.
Hope had watched as a convoy of carriages arrived at the gates of Ithria, they were knights of the Great Kingdom of Eldencrest. Ithria had many trade routes, which is the reason this town was visited frequently by many different Great Kingdoms, as well as other minor Kingdoms. Ithria's thriving markets and location made it a key trading hub amongst the Great Kingdoms. As a result, it was often visited by merchants and representatives from many Great Kingdoms, as well as minor.
To Hope's surprise, they were actual knights, rather than merchants. Hope suddenly felt a bad premonition. Why are knights of Eldencrest here? Was there an incident? Perhaps a conflict between the Wardens... Or the kings...? Hope had been surging with many thoughts, he was quite worried, but Lith had noticed the strange look on Hope's face and offered to take the three of them to a vendor and buy them honeyed fruits, which was a special delicacy of the Elves. Tristen upon hearing this immediately accepted the offer and they approached a nearby vendor.
"Greetings, young ones! Might I aid you in finding what you seek?" The vendor asked in a soft, melodic voice. Hope looked up and felt taken aback, the vendors beauty was truly captivating. The vendor's long, silvery white hair flowed down to their shoulders. Their eyes were a dark shade of sapphire. They had high cheekbones and smooth, flawless skin which gifted their face with a special glow, while a gentle smile played on perfectly shaped lips, welcoming yet mysterious. It was hard to discern if it was a male, or a female, regardless their beauty made Hope feel self-conscious about his own.
''Would you happen to have honeyed fruits? Preferably apples?'' Tristen asked, to which the vendor replied in a whimsical tone, ''Why, of course! I'll apply a discount for the younger generation!" The vendor, winked at them. The behavior of the vendor was quite questionable, but they wouldn't be dumb enough to turn down a discount for their favorite snacks!
As Lith reached inside his pocket, suddenly, the peaceful air was broken by the clear, resonant ringing of bells. The sound echoed through the trees and the previously peaceful town of Ithria. This bell was only rung when Ithria had been attacked by Demonic Beasts, which had been once, in the 2nd Epoch.
Hope's eyes were surveying their surroundings, the elves that were involved in pleasantries with one and another were running, from a threat that was unfathomable to someone like Hope. The vendor smiled, ''The Day of Reckoning has finally arrived.'' They said softly, a strange but radiant smile spreading across their face.
''R-Run! We'll meet up again... Go back to your families!'' Tristen yelled, in a panicked voice, and without waiting, he turned and sprinted toward home, with Lith following close behind. Hope hadn't moved, he was frozen in place, with a cold drip of sweat running down from his forehead.
''Fear not Elves. This is not the end. This is the beginning... of 'His' awakening.'' The vendor said, before turning their head to look at Hope. ''Why aren't you running? Are you scared, little one?''
Hope, who's heart started beating rapidly, looked at the vendor.
''W-What do you mean? Who is 'He?''' Hope asked, his eyes were wide. All around them, the peaceful beauty of Ithria was unraveling. Hope could hear the panicked screams of elves, the growls and snarls of monstrous beasts echoing through the stone alleys. The once graceful and beautiful town was being torn apart.
The vendor meanwhile, left the stand and approached Hope. The vendor was silent, studying Hope's eyes. ''Those eyes... I once had eyes like yours.'' Hope remained silent, trembling.
''The same hunger I buried, the same pain I wore like a second skin.'' They continued, in a sympathetic voice.
''Tell me something, Hope.'' The vendor's eyes shifted, glowing a deep, crimson red. Their once-elegant hands twisted as sharp, blackened nails extended from delicate fingers. The gentle, melodic voice they once spoke with dissolved into a guttural, barbaric snarl, layered and unnatural, as if more than one creature now spoke from within.
It's a... It's a Higher Demon! He was too terrified, too weak... completely powerless in the face of something far beyond his understanding. His mouth opened, but no words came out. In this world, the weak die, whilst the strong thrived. Hope would soon learn the harsh meaning of these words, even if he did not wish to. Even if he wanted to repel the beasts, and save the lives of the elves that he witnessed getting shredded by those vile beasts. He could not. He was too powerless, too pathetic, too weak. In this cruel world, mercy is a myth, and weakness is a death sentence.
''You yearn for strength, don't you Hope? Enough to stop being a slave to the chains of the cruel fate of this world.
A small grin appeared on the vile Demon's face.
''A masterpiece has to be painted in blood after all. Tell you what, little one. I have taken a liking to you!'' The demon's voice wasn't as soft and calm as before. It's voice felt like a solemn prayer: soft, reverent and shrouded in mysterious desire. The strangely beautiful demon added, ''Are you wiling to forsake your light, hm? To fall from grace?''
Hope remained silent, held captive by fear. He had always known better than to trust demons, yet faced with a higher demon before him, did he truly have a choice? Or was that just a lie he deluded himself with? Of course, you always have a choice, but in Hope's situation, none that promised a favorable outcome. Why deny it, though? He owed nothing to the elves. Yes, he would lose his grace, his place among them. But in the grand scheme of things, did it really matter? To trade fleeting grace for lasting power… wasn't that a price worth paying?
Hope's mind roared with a thousand voices, each one loud and clear, clashing and overlapping until his thoughts became a deafening chaos. Hope finally chose to speak,
''I want... Power.'' As he finally made his choice, he could see a dozen more beasts infiltrate the inside of the town, it was clear there was no time left. This was the end of Ithria.
The Demon smiled upon hearing Hope's choice, ''I cannot grant you the power. But I can guide you. You must survive, and find a woman. Her name is Lillith, she runs a bar in Sylthirien. Tell her Asmodeus sent you. She will guide you from there... Probably.''
Hope couldn't help but feel scammed, but he nodded indiscernibly. He did not understand why a Higher Demon would be willing to help out an Elf, an Elf like him especially. He did not care. ''Now, little one. It is time for me to do what I must. Go and venture to your loved ones, say goodbye... Or something? I do not know, but steal a horse from one of the knights and make your way straight, you will know how to enter Sylthirien. I very much hope that your journeys will be simple.'' Soon after, Asmodeus grew wings from his back and started floating above the town.
Hope did not waste much time either, he booked it towards his home, he passed by Lith's home and Tristen's home, luckily their streets had not been ravaged by the beasts yet. Hope made it home, his home was still in perfect condition, he quickly entered. He could not find his father anywhere, he quickly ran upstairs, and saw a note on his bed. ''Take my Sword as your graduation gift. I'm sorry that I was unable to celebrate it with you. There is a case involving Demonic Beasts, the hunters have requested my aid for this mission. I'm confident that you will have passed the final examination, your sword is waiting in my room.''
Hope read the message and felt a bitter pain in his heart, his father had most probably perished, but he did not want to think about that, he quickly ventured downstairs and grabbed the sheathed sword, he took his fathers black coat, and ran outside. As he exited, he could see many Demonic Beasts that were roaming on the streets.
They are quickly consuming the town... Soon there will be nothing left... Hope cursed inwardly, as he waited for the beast outside his home to pass by, before making it back near the gates of Ithria. It was risky, but that was where the horse stable was located, chances were very high for there to be a horse for Hope to mount.